* In 1998, the Minister of National Unity and Social Development stated that 150 to 160 underage girls are detained each year for involvement in immoral activities and sent to rehabilitation centres. (US Dept of State, Human Rights Report, 1999)

* Malaysia is a source, transit, and destination country for trafficking in women and girls for sexual exploitation. In 1998, the Deputy Home Minister stated that 2,250 foreign prostitutes had been arrested in Malaysia. (US Dept of State, Human Rights Report, 1999)

* There are 43,000 to 142,000 or more prostituted persons in Malaysia. Prostituted persons are mainly adult women, but there are also male, transvestite and child prostitutes, both girls and boys. (CATW Fact Book, citing Dario Agnote “Sex trade key part of S.E. Asian economies, study says”, Kyodo News, 18 August 1998)

* There are 142,000 women in prostitution in Malaysia, 8,000-10,000 in Kuala Lumpur. (CATW-Asia Pacific, Trafficking in Women and Prostitution in the Asia Pacific, 1996)

* Girls are lured from Burma, Cambodia, Laos, and south China for the sex markets in Thailand or to be diverted to Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan. (“Human Trafficking: Gangs make Thailand a regional hub”, Bangkok Post, 6 September 2000, reprinted in Stop Trafficking Archive, September 2000)

* Police believe that the overwhelming number of prostitutes in the country are foreigners from Indonesia, the Philippines, Burma, Thailand, and China. These women often work as karaoke hostesses, guest relations officers, and masseuses. Russian women work in smaller numbers as prostitutes. (US Dept of State, Human Rights Report, 1999)

* Although statistics are not available, the incidence of child prostitution appears to have decreased in recent years. (EI Barometer, 1998)

* Studies show that more than a half of those ‘rescued” from various sex establishments were under age 18. (CATW Fact Book, citing Dario Agnote, “Sex trade key part of S.E. Asian economies, study says”, Kyodo News, 18 August 1998)

* Recreation business, such as entertainment and fitness clubs, are the main channels for prostitution. Almost every town has a red-light district. (CATW-Asia Pacific, Trafficking in Women and Prostitution in the Asia Pacific, 1996)

* Malaysia is a destination for various nations’ sex tours. (CATW-Asia Pacific, Trafficking in Women and Prostitution in the Asia Pacific, 1996)

* Thai and Filipino girls are trafficked into Malaysia for prostitution. (Lawyers for Human Rights and Legal Action, The Flesh Trade Report, 1995-1996)